FROM ROTTERDAM TO THE HAGUE. 141 



and by imitating an explosion of combustible matter, to be 

 the general magazine for gunpowder in Holland. Histori- 

 cal events, we find, are familiar to the common people here ; 

 for our friend afterwards pointed out to us the place where 

 the magazine formerly stood, when it exploded and destroy- 

 ed a great part of the town, in 1654. 



Delft. 

 We had often heard of Delft-ware, and expected to en- 

 ter a pottery -town somewhat inferior probably to New- 

 castle-under-Lyne. We were therefore not a little sur- 

 prised at the magnitude of this place, which is three or four 

 times larger than the English town mentioned. Delft is 

 between nine and ten miles from Rotterdam, and proved a 

 two hours stage. Having breakfasted, we took a lounge 

 through the streets, and, attracted by the beauty of the 

 steeple, we directed our steps to the Nieuwe Kerk. Here 

 we were invited to look at the splendid monument erected 

 by the nation to William, Prince of Orange, who was assas- 

 sinated in a house in Delft, hard by the church which 

 now contains his monument. This fine piece of sculpture 

 has often been described : we were particularly struck with 

 the success of the artist in depicting the attachment of the 

 faithful dog, stretched at the Prince's feet. We felt no 

 little interest in examining the less showy tomb of Hugo 

 Grotius in the same church. Having sent for the beadle, 

 we got access to the lofty steeple ; and the day being se- 

 rene and clear, we enjoyed a most extensive prospect from 

 a balcony near the top, surrounded with hundreds of caril- 

 lon-bells. The districts of Delftland and Schieland lay 

 spread below us like a map. In the direction of Leyden, 

 water prevailed very much, all the veenen or fenny places 

 from which turf has been dug for fuel being now covered 



